The research center will focus on
using AI in areas such as healthcare, agriculture and education,
Google said.

"We're committed to collaborating
with local universities and research centers, as well as working
with policy makers on the potential uses of AI in Africa,"
the
company In a blog post on Wednesday.

The new AI center in Ghana will
open later this year and include machine learning researchers and
engineers, Google said, thought it did provide details on the
number of staff it will hire.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai promised
last year during a visit to Lagos that Google would continue
raising its profile on the continent. At the time, Pichai
announced new investments in African startups as part of the
company's Launchpad Accelerator in Africa. The company also
launched a special version of YouTube built for users with
slow internet connections.

Google's interest in Africa comes
at a time when a lot of international money is being spread
around the continent. In 30 years,the United Nations
expectsAfrica to be
home to 25 percent of the world's 9 billion population. Not only
does that represent a huge market but investors are planning for
the day that Africa's developing economies hit their
stride.